L1A1 Single Shot "UK" spec?? Any ideas?

[daryldiane]

Picked mine up today from Gavin and Gabby aswell.
Rifle is very nice, most parts seem original, apart from the gas block, which just acts as a mount for the front sight and the barrel (though you can't tell the barrel isn't original, only by the proof). The flash hider is original. Receiver, upper and lower, bolt carrier and bolt are all matching, though as said previously the bolt has been newly numbered.
There is no gas tube in the handguard. you can see the German proof on the barrel infront of the gas block, quite discrete.
Stripped and oiled everything, was a bit dry, and fitted the automatic bolt hold open on empty from an FAL, works perfectly, groove is present on the receiver, and the platform catch appears to be on all the L1A1 inch mags I have and have seen.
Will definately look better in my eyes with wood, have a nice Long wood butt, just need to find a handguard and pistol grip. Any one have a butt removal tool I could borrow?
Will be on the zero range at Bisley on Tuesday to zero the irons and the Trilux.
Have tried to attach some pics, hope it works.

[Charlie303]

Thanks David. That's very good news as it would have been a pain to do on the range.

[David TS]

Stop keep posting pictures and teasing you lot, I can't pick mine up until Friday

[Charlie303]

Here's a few pictures.

Very minor niggle, on an otherwise extremely fine looking rifle (haven't fired it yet!), is the plastic above the gas block. I think it's being pushed apart by the new weld, but not quite sure. I've had the handguards off several times but cannot really see what's causing it.

Note the rib mod on the breech block carrier and a corresponding pin welded in to the receiver channel. Presumably a mod to ensure a S5 block could not be used.

Anyone who fires this soon, please post your experiences, zeroing etc.

Thanks,

Charlie

[Charlie303]

The gas blocks are not dummys as such, but original items (Enfield 1975 in this case) that have had the gas regulating ring at the back removed, the plug at the front replaced with a dummy and a plate welded on the rear to prevent insertion of the gas tube. It all looks fine unless you look really closely. Small price to pay for having a real L1A1.

Attachment 22128Attachment 22127

Charlie

[Nick S]

Couple more pictures of the bolt/carrier modifications:



Carrier has a pin soldered into it, and a notch cut in the front, and the bolt has a slot milled to clear the pin, and a 'fin' added to the front that matches the notch in the carrier. Both would prevent either being used in a 'real' L1A1 without modification. (Australian inch bolt at the bottom for comparison.)

The gap in the handguards is probably not due to anything in particular - they generally just have gaps! (The Imbel ones seem much worse.) I've seen people recommending taking them off, put strong rubber bands round them and put them in boiling water soften them and straighten them out a bit - but I can't say I've ever tried it!

[daryldiane]

Oh well, off to Bisley tomorrow, be an interesting day, just a bit worried about left arm repetative strain injury. Wonder if I'll be able to sue HM Gov for banning self loaders!

[David TS]

Oh well, off to Bisley tomorrow, be an interesting day, just a bit worried about left arm repetative strain injury. Wonder if I'll be able to sue HM Gov for banning self loaders!

Enjoy!

[Peter Laidler]

I have a single shot straight pull SA80 and it still attracts attention when it goes on the ranges. The L1A1 is sure to attract as much - if not MORE attention

[OxfordAndy]

Have been trying to talk myself out of this since my original post.....but after all the pics and posts.....have sent my FAC off for variation!

Having achieved the half century last month, the L1A1 seems to fit the bill for a celebratory gift to self

Once you guys who are lucky enough to have shot them get a chance, would be good to hear whether any of you have tried with the SUIT scope and how well they hold zero.

Failing that I guess it is the pic rail top cover and a NF Compact or Triji ACOG??